Joan Chen & Youn Yuh-jung: Our On-Screen Chemistry in ‘The Wedding Banquet’ and Desire for More

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When Michael Mann’s film “Heat” hit the screens in 1995, movie enthusiasts were thrilled to witness acting greats Robert De Niro and Al Pacino together for the first time. Similarly, viewing legends Youn Yuh-jung and Joan Chen sharing a screen in “The Wedding Banquet” evokes the same sense of excitement.

Youn is a renowned South Korean actor who earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress with her debut in the American film “Minari.” Chen, on the other hand, is a Chinese-American actress and director who became a sensation in China with her role in “The Last Emperor,” which won nine Oscars. Since then, she has kept a bustling career not just in Hollywood, but also overseas.

In “The Wedding Banquet,” Grandmother Youn and Mother Chen are portrayed as distinct parental figures. Youn is the grandmother of Min, a gay man who falls in love with Chris and proposes a green card marriage to his lesbian friend Angela. Despite being from a traditional Korean family, Min’s sexuality has never been openly discussed with his grandparents. In contrast, Chen plays the role of May, Angela’s extroverted mother who is overly proud of her gay daughter or simply enjoys the attention that comes from being so publicly supportive.

How much do you both relate to these characters? Joan, even though your character needs to be the center of attention, I find her so endearing.

Director Andrew Ahn collaborated with producer James Schamus on the screenplay adaptation from Ang Lee’s 1993 romantic comedy – a role that Chen had initially been considered for at one point. In an interview with EbMaster, Chen and Youn (also known as YJ) discussed their character connections, the global differences in filmmaking, and the unique experience of working together.

Joan Chen: As mothers, we both understand the unintentional pain one can inflict on their children. Therefore, I could empathize with her on some level. However, my character’s personality bears no resemblance to mine, which makes playing her all the more enjoyable. But she’s a complete diva, always focusing on herself, herself, herself.

YJ, I heard you were originally supposed to play the mother of the groom but you requested the character be made his grandmother.

Youn Yuh-jung: Upon receiving the script, I discovered that the male character was over 30, which made me believe I could play his mother. However, when they cast the [Han], I told Andrew, “I’m too old to be his mother, let’s make me his grandmother instead. It adds a richer family history.” I feel it turned out effectively in the end.

I’ve also heard you say you related to this character because of your son, who is gay, and that Korea is not really open about such issues.

The topic is kept hidden, due to Korea’s conservative nature. It’s a deeply personal matter for me. I had a conversation with Andrew about this, and the dialogue between my character and my grandson in the film was something we developed together, inspired by my own experiences. In the movie, my character tells him, “You are my grandson,” which is a line that originated from our real-life interaction. I hope it added some authenticity to the storyline.

Chen: After watching the movie, I couldn’t stop praising YJ. Her performance was full of dramatic impact and genuine emotion. As a fellow actor, I felt compelled to express how skillfully she delivered her role. It was truly impressive.

Dear Joan, you truly excelled! Your performance alongside your daughter and our shared scene was simply remarkable. I can’t thank you enough for your assistance. Cheers!

I want to talk about that moment because while your characters interact in group scenes together, you get a beautiful one-on-one moment with a dinner scene near the end — what was that like to shoot?  

Chen: I was eagerly anticipating our shared scenes, as we didn’t have many opportunities to work together. On the day we filmed this scene, it was the last one for the day after a long time, and we were both feeling a bit fatigued. YJ has an amusing and offbeat sense of humor. After every take, Andrew would compliment us, saying, “That was beautiful, let’s do it again!” To which YJ sometimes responded, “If it’s so beautiful, then why repeat it?”
Youn: We had numerous takes, but I enjoyed our time together. Despite not having met before this film, I have been a fan of Joan since “The Last Emperor,” so in some ways, she felt like an acquaintance to me.

You said Joan helped you in that scene; was that just by being an amazing partner?

You: I’m fairly confident that Joan would concur with my perspective. To me, it’s like a balance. Even though I’m a B student, if I work together with an A+ student, I could potentially become a B+ student. She has the potential to lift me up.

Chen: Having a great acting partner like YJ is truly a blessing, and I couldn’t ask for more. It’s even more gratifying to know she feels the same. People have asked me, “Could we make an entire movie out of that dinner scene?” I genuinely hope there will be another chance for us to collaborate in the future.

Youn: But we better hurry because I’m much older than you, I’m dying very soon.


I also love your work with the rest of this cast. How did that chemistry and family history — fraught as it may be — develop? What was it like working with this exciting new generation of actors?

Chen: Prior to our encounter, I hadn’t known Kelly, yet YJ’s words proved true: once you’ve witnessed someone’s work, they don’t seem strange. From the get-go, I felt confident in our collaboration. In one of our initial scenes together, Kelly became deeply emotional and began crying profusely. Despite Andrew being a gentle director, this particular scene required multiple takes, and even after seven attempts, she continued to deliver an outstanding performance. Her dedication left me in awe.

That’s a lot of takes.

Youn: And he would always say they were “lovely!”

Han Gi-Chan, who plays your grandson, is just a joy. But this was his first movie, do you think he was intimidated?

Youn: It was our first encounter, I suspect he felt intimidated by me due to our age difference and the fact that I was evaluating him. He came to see me prior to the shooting, and I hadn’t heard of him before as he is a relatively new actor. As soon as he entered my apartment, I asked, “Let’s go over the script.” I could sense his nervousness, but… My son (gesturing to Nuel Cho) was present as well.

Cho: I was on set and when he walked in, she immediately said, “Let’s get started.” However, he performed exceptionally well during the reading. He managed to pass the test.

Youn: And I told him after seeing the film he did a wonderful job. Just wonderful.

Did Bowen speak to either of you about hosting or being on “Saturday Night Live”?

The speaker inquires whether Bowen has invited you for hosting “Saturday Night Live.” Her eldest son is quite enthusiastic about the show. He recently sent some recordings and was thrilled to learn that you were playing with Bowen.

Youn: No! I couldn’t!
Cho: She’s a senior citizen, it goes a little late.

Chen: Bowen consistently impresses me. My child, who attends NYU, can’t wait for this month as they’ll get to witness a recording of the show. They’re absolutely thrilled about it.

What do you find to be the biggest difference or change in making movies in the U.S. versus other countries?

In Korea, I’ve been in the industry for about 60 years and I’m well-known there. People are accustomed to my preferences, and I have a certain level of pampering. I dislike extensive retakes; I prefer not to do more than three. I advised Douglas Seok to inform his friend that I was becoming uncomfortable.

Did he keep it to three after that?

Youn: Yes, he did, and he brought me some nice Korean rice cake to say sorry to me.

Chen: I began my career in China at 14 and have continued ever since, even while working in Hollywood. At first, things were distinct because film stock was very costly, so takes had to be perfect. Additionally, scenes were usually short, often just capturing reactions rather than actors delivering lines together. Initially, I favored the U.S. approach. However, over time, they’ve grown more alike. The roles I receive differ, but I appreciate the opportunity to work in such diverse cultures. It’s truly a privilege.

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2025-04-18 22:17